SET THE SCENE: UMBC plays the first of 14 home games during the 2012-13 season when they welcome the Eastern (Pa.) Eagles to RAC Arena on Mon., Nov. 11.z

The game marks the return of Eastern Head Coach Nate Stewart, who served on the UMBC staff from 2006-11.

RETRIEVER UPDATE: Despite a tremendous 28-point, 11-rebound effort by senior guard Ryan Cook, the visiting UMBC Retrievers fell, 80-75, at Penn in the opening game for both teams. The game marked UMBC’s first under Acting Head Coach Aki Thomas.

UMBC led, 48-34, at the half, but a hot-shooting Penn squad outscored the Retrievers, 34-9, over the first 12:23 of the second half and the visitors could not overcome that rally.

SR G Brian Neller hit his first four 3-point attempts of the night and added 15 points.

EAGLE UPDATE: Tonight’s game marks the opening contest of the season for the Eagles. In Nate Stewart’s first season in 2011-12, Eastern put together a record of 15-11. But all five starters from that squad completed their eligibility and nine of Eastern’s 15 players ont the roster are freshmen or sophomores.

WHO’S UP NEXT: UMBC heads cross-town to visit 2012 MAAC champion Loyola on Wed., Nov. 14. The game will be broadcast by MASN-TV with a tip-off time of 9:00 p.m. Johnny Holiday and Troy Green have the call on the network for the 46th meeting between the Retrievers and Greyhounds.